I enjoy many things, one of which is knitting. I teach Kindergarten, live on an island with my wonderful family and enjoy being outside, working in my flower gardens and writing whenever I can. I enjoy learning new things and making connections with others. For me learning is inspired by ideas and a variety of experiences. I look forward to learning more about the craft of knitting and crocheting from others.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

I finally finished a comfy, cozy wrap for my sister in law, MaryBeth. Mia cotton yarn is so soft and easy to knit. I was sad to know that this yarn is no longer available! I will have to check on line as I really want to make a sweater! The yarn is really flexible and can be pulled any which way, but will easily come back to it's original shape.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I made my first market bag! I love it. I goofed on the handle, but as it turned out the straps(I designed) work better for my shoulder and back. It has been a great bag to carry groceries as well as the many school belongings that I seem to have collected. I love the bright pink. My next bag is coming.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

I have finally finished my cotton vest. It is bit bumpy to say the least! However, I think it will be great for kindergarten on a cool fall day. The texture is soft and bumpy, but will look nice with a pin to dress it up a bit.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

I found out that a dear friend of mine also knits and sews too! Today was a beautiful day for a drive to Fairfield where I was able to reconnect with an old friend. Laura, a talented lady shared her beautiful home and garden goodies with me. She lives on 92 acres of land with beautiful views and gardens. She loved her new hand knit dish cloths. We had good intentions of kitting, but ended up enjoying hearing about each others lives. Stay tuned for how her cap turns out for her grandson and my mayan cotton vest is almost complete!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Hurray! I just finished another baby blanket! Lots of people I know are having babies! This blanket is for my PT, Tori! The yarn is very soft and plush. Wonderful for a newborn baby!

The pattern is easy! All you need is size 10 needles, 5 balls of Berroco "Plush" yarn-3 balls of a main color, 2 balls of a contrast color. Then just cast on 90 stitches, work in a stockinette stitch. Change color after you finish with a color! This pattern is from Kaleidoscope Yarns.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

One of the great things that I love about knitting is how much you can do! The learning curve seems to come quickly and steeply when I try to challenge myself. Thank goodness I have a dear friend close by to assist me!Cindy is helping me create my first vegetable/fruit bag! A great pattern by Yarndance.

What a wonderful gift from my friend, Cindy! A swifter! This has been a huge help when trying to ball my yarn. I love it and it saves me so much time!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

For the last few days I have been knitting a variety of dish clothes using the knit and purl stitch. The yarn I am using is a sassy cotton. Sassy cotton seems to work best as it is very durable and seems everlasting. However, most any other sturdy cotton yarn would make a great dish cloth.

The dish cloths pictured are for my mother, Helen who lives in the mid west. She loves the cloths and likes how easy they are to care for.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

I just love knitting with cotton yarn. It seems to slide easily from the needles as I knit. It is also much easier on my dry hands. I am on a cotton watch cap craze! I am knitting different colored watch caps.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

When I first started knitting I had a pair of scissors, a darning needle and some yarn. That was it! Then I started to realize the many tools/notions you need as you begin to knit! I have since added to my notions!

I have found some great notions bags from Lexi Barns and a great durable case as well for my needles. The bags are /cases are very durable. I have had mine for 4 years and they still look brand new.

Then I started using circular needles and discovered Namaste notion bags. Namaste notions are reasonably priced and I love the variety of styles you can choose from. Thanks to my friends at Kaleidoscope Yarns I have quite a few of their great products! I love the versatility of Namaste notions and how easy it is to throw a bag of notions into my bag along with my latest knitting project as I head out the door!

Friday, August 6, 2010

I have finally learned how to knit mittens! Hurray! My daughter, Lydia, has been waiting patiently for a few years for mittens. She says, 'I just want a pair of mittens mom!". Thanks to my dear friend, Cindy I am now a mitten knitter and my wonderful daughter now has her mittens. One of the things I am learning about knitting is that their is this steep learning curve that happens almost seamlessly. You almost seem to know when it is time to move onto more of a challenge. I knit 2 pairs of mitts. One pair I pearled a row around the middle of the thumb for added texture. The hat is easy to make with a rolled edge!

I am very close to finishing my first knit baby blanket! I used Berroco "Plush" yarn. The pattern called for 5 skeins in all, starting with 3 skeins of a main color and 2 skeins of a contrast color. The yarn is cotton and very soft as well as easy to knit with. I worked in a stockinette stitch for four inches and alternated colors. As a final touch I am planning on crocheting an edge using a crab stitch with both colors together! I may even have enough yarn left over to make a newborn hat!

Yeah! Baby blanket is completed! It is so soft and folds up easily. What a great blanket to take anywhere that you and your baby go.

What do you do with scrap cotton and wool yarn anyway?

Great Links!

Is Spring Here Yet?

I just finished some booties and a comfy cap for a new baby arrival for a friend of my daughter, Lydia. The yarn is 100% soft cotton. The pattern is inspired by Knitting Pure and Simple. The booties are opposite in their appearance as the whoopsie daisy bootie!

Cotton Watch Caps!

Great 100% multicolored yarn

Mary's Cotton Wrap

I knit a wrap for Mary, my mother in law. So soft and snuggly for a cool summer evening.

Patterns and Designs In Nature!

I am also a beginner vegetable and flower gardener. Lots of times I get ideas for for knitting projects while working outside. I like to create and design things around my other passions in the outdoors. It is amazing at how many patterns their are in nature and how inspiring they can be.

About Me

Follow us on Twitter @kkidsinvt
I have been teaching since 1982. I have taught grades 1-4th. I am now embarking on a new challenge. Full Day Kindergarten!
I enjoy teaching so much because I feel like I make a difference for both children and their families. Teaching is both rewarding and very challenging. I enjoy the new learning that occurs daily as well as the energy and enthusiasm that children bring to the classroom.